You know him as the counselor wearing the hat on Celebrity Rehab, but Bob Forrest is a musician of the highest order. Fronting L.A. bands Thelonious Monster and The Bicycle Thief, Forrest is a songwriter/vocalist/author who has been through a lot in his life and is presently touring in support of his brilliant new acoustic CD, Survival Songs. Here’s what the man had to say when we managed a sit down during his busy schedule.

Formerly the lead vocalist of LA rock bands Thelonious Monster and The Bicycle Thief, yet best known by the masses (and VH1 watchers) as Bob Forrest (the one with the hat) lead drug counselor on “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” Forrest has just released his new album Survival Songs.